So my understanding is you can spend a year in Canada through BUNAC if you're from the UK and 18-30, I'm English and 22.

I want to make the move there next year, whether it's in the summer or a year's time I'd wait just fine, so regards to a job - what's the best way people go about finding a job in order to earn money while they're there? Is it feasible to sort it before going out there or would you need to go there and then find it?

As for cities, I like lively cities, I know it's Canada but skiing etc isn't really my thing, I would like to live in a place that's more a stereotypical 'city' - is Toronto the ideal place for this? I'm a big fan of the bar scene and such

Do you intend to stay after your BUNAC runs out or return to the UK?

If you intend to stay, you may wish to consider the Labour Market Opinion and Temporary Work Permit route. This guarantees job security and the TWP can be extended and also used when applying for permanent residency, two things which the BUNAC can not, as has been demonstrated with a number of threads in recent weeks. A TWP is also a lot cheaper, only costing $150.

For the bar scene pretty much all the large cities are good, though funnily enough the one I hear people talk about the most in regard to that is Montreal. A bit too frenchy for my liking though.

As for finding a job, check out craigslist and the usual job sites. Also check out the government job bank as you are more likely to find a job before you go using that since recruiters looking for international workers often post there.

New York

Montreal & Ottawa were my favorite larger Canadian city's. I found Toronto got boring rather quickly, still a good laugh tho.

Toronto was boring but Ottawa wasn't? Do you have a particular interest in the archived records of Parliamentary procedural changes?

Toronto al the way!

I was 20 when I did my BUNAC year there, and I'll be 30 when I become a Permanent Resident of Canada!

Toronto has an abundance of bar and restaurant jobs which are pretty easy to come by. I worked downtown, made great money in tips, and really enjoyed my spare time.

I contacted some restaurants before I went over, and most said just pop in when you get here. I arrived in June and had a job in 48hrs. I also found shared accommodation easily via colleagues.

Hope that helps?

Not only did it have fantastically archived records, the city itself was rather pretty and the nightlife was tops!

Thanks for the help. Ideally I'd stay longer than a year, but isn't it much harder that way? The Bunac is a sort of guarantee to get you out there for a year?

Yeah I'm leaning towards Toronto, i've read around and it's got what I want.

That's reassuring to know there are plenty of jobs, and as stated, I'm not fussy about what I do, in the last few years I've worked in England and Spain doing bar work, restaurant work, hotel maintenance, and accounting!

How have you managed to get the permanent residency then?

Ottawa??????????

Sconehead must be assuming that because he had a twins encounter there all visitors will.

Alot of Canadians will sell you this fantasy that the nightlife in Montreal is amazing. Personally when I've been there it has been lost on me. Think Paris but the people are much ruder with less to do.

If you don't care for snow sports then it's definately Toronto.

Lots of bar and server jobs in the summer but by mid-June they start to fill up. So if you are planning to come in the summer try and get to town before then.

Ottawa is the dullest place I've ever visited in my life with a party scene on a par with perhaps Brampton on a good evening.

Definately a twins encounter!!!

Disagree entirely.

Plenty of good places to hang out here, just got to know where they are.

How long were you here? What party scene did you attempt to enjoy?

Still, guess I've no objections if people don't enjoy it. Keeps it nice and affordable.

I've experienced Toronto's nightlife with locals a good number of times. Its nothing special IMHO.

thanks James, that helps with planning when I would come, especially coming from someone who lives in toronto, your advice is much appreciated.

so mid-june is not the time to plan on coming, so i would imagine a sort of april/early may beginning [correct me if i'm wrong there]...so what sort of time would be considered 'post summer' where the jobs begin to become available again?